Sign



Feb. l 1927.

H. F. ANDERSON SIGN Filed oct. 6, 1924 Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES HARRY F. ANDERSON, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO JAMES BOYCE, 0F LAKETON, MICHIGAN.

1 SIGN.

Application led October 6, 1924-. Serial No. 741,800.

Interiorly illuminated signs are commonly formed ot so-called glassletters, each letter consisting of a rectangular plate having a letteror other character embossed thereon. The entire letter or panel ismolded or otherwise formed of opal glass or other suitable translucentmaterial. In order to give the character strokes the necessarydetiniteness or prominence, the portion of the plate surrounding thecharacter strokes is covered by means of a sheet-metal stencil.

There is another class of signs in which the glass character is mountedin a suitable translucent background ot contrasting color made up ofpieces of glass held together by lead. Such leaded glass signs arerelatively expensive on account of the considerable amount'of skilledlabor required in producing the leaded glass.

The present invention has reference to both of the above-mentionedclasses of signs. One object of the invention is to obtain the pleasingeffect of a leaded glass sign Without the expense involved in the use ofleaded glass. Other objects are to eliminate the expense of thesheet-metal stencil heretofore employed', to impart added strength tothe letter, and to protect the inner side of the character from anaccumulation of dust.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ot anelectric sign embodying the Yfeatures of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a tace view of one ot the panels or sign units comprised inthe sign.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken in the line of 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring first to Figs. 2 and 3, each panel or sign unit comprises abacking 1 Which may be of transparent colorless glass; a letter or othercharacter 2 molded of opal glass or the like, the strokes or parts otthe letter or other character being convexo-concave, clearly shown inFig. 3; and a background 3 surrounding the letter or other character andof the same height and Width as the backing 1. The background 3 is madeup of a number ot pieces of glass 3a fitted together to occupy the spacearound the letter. rIhe pieces 3a are preferably of translucent glassand of a color contrasting With that of the letter 2, as, for example, amottled blue. The letter@ and the pieces 3a may be secured to thebacking 1 by means of a suitable `cement 4.

Letters or sign units such as the one described may be employed inmaking up signs in various Ways. In Fig. 1 I have shown a sign casing 5,the front of which constitutes a frame 6 having a plurality ofrectangular openings 7 to receive letters or sign units. rThe openings 7are somewhat smaller than the sign units, and thus the t'ront Wall orframe 6 overlaps the edges of each sign unit.l The sign units may besecured in place Within the casing 5 in any preferred manner.

It will be apparent that a sign constructed as herein disclosed has theappearance of being composed of embossed letters mounted in leaded glasspanels. A very attractive efl'ect is thus obtained at relatively smallcost.

It Will be noted that the opacity or translucency required to define theletter and give it the necessary prominence is obtained by means of thetranslucent background 3 and Without the use of sheet-metal stencils,such as have heretofore been commonly used in signs of the general typeherein referred to.

The glass plate 1 imparts strength and rigidity to the unit or panel andalso keeps dust and dirt out of the concave side of the letter 2.

When the sign is illuminated, the lines ot cement 4 producesubstantially the same optical effect as the lead in leaded glass. Theappearance ot leaded glass and the function of securing the letter 2 andpieces 8 to the backing 1 are thus obtained at a small fraction of thecost of leaded glass.

I claim as my invention:

1. A panel or unit for signs having, in combination, a backing plateoftransparent colorless glass, a character of convexe-conn cavecross-section made of translucent glass7 a background formed of piecesof translucent glass of a color contrasting with that of the character,and lines of cement securing the character and the pieces forming thebackground to the backing plate, said background being ot substantiallythe same outside dimensions as said backing plate.

2. A panel or unit for signs having, in combination, a glass backingplate, a character of convexo-concave cross-section made of translucentglass, a background formed of pieces of translucent glass of a colorcontrasting with that of the character, and lines of cement securing thecharacter and the pieces forming the background to the backing plate.

3. A panel or unit for signs having, in combination, a glass backingplate, a character of convexe-concave crosssection made of translucentglass, a background o'l' translucent glass of a color contrasting withthat of the character` and lines of cement securing the character andthe background to the hacking plate.

1l. A panel or unit 'lor signs having` in combination a glass hackingplate. a character of couvexoconeave crossseetiou made of translucentglass. a background oi translucent glass of a color contrasting; withthat ot' the character. said character` background and backing platebeing secured together.

5. A sign comprising a casing, the Jfront Wall of which has an openingtherein7 a sign unitexposed through said opening, said sign unitcomprising a glass backing plate of the same general outline as saidopening7 a charactor ot' convexe-concave cross-section made. oftranslucent glass, and a translucent background of a color contrastingwith that of' the character, said character, background and backingplate being secured together.

G. A sign comprising a casing, the front Wall of which has aplurality ofrectangular openings therein. a sign unit exposed through each of saidopenings, each of said sign. units comprising a rectangular transparentglass backing` plate, a character' of convexe-concave crossesection madeof translucent `glass and a translucent background covering the exposedportion of the backing plat@ and of a color contrastingV with that ofthe character, said character` background and backing plate beingsecured together.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HARRY F. ANDERSON.

